Client Spotlight: Zach Bryant

​Name: Zach Bryant

Instagram: @zbry34

Twitter: @zbry34

Career: Professional Baseball Player

Organization: Chicago Cubs

Position: Pitcher

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My three favorite moments in baseball are...

"...first, being drafted. Second, an outing against [Liberty University] in the ASUN tournament. I pitched longer and more innings than I had all season. It was a perfect 3 or 4 and ⅔. Third, when I struck out the side against [the University of Florida]. I came in with the bases loaded and runners on the corners. My dad and grandpa were always huge Gator fans. With Florida being one of the highly ranked baseball teams, having come in with a tight situation and then striking out the side when we had the lead was huge. I’ll never forget that. Especially since I was able to do it in front of my dad. It made it really special."

Growing up I did not really have a player I emulated, but...

"...I looked up to Austin Hayes. We went to high school together and he was a senior when I was a freshman. He taught me how to work. When we had practice, he would try to get me to go to the gym after. After practice, we would hit in the cages until it was dark and then we would go lift. So putting in an extra 3-4 hours of work every day. When he was coming out of high school, he wasn’t recruited much. He went to a junior college because it was his only option. He went absolutely nuts and killed it. He went to Jacksonville after a year and then killed it there again for the next two years. He got drafted in the third round and was the first person in his draft to make it to the Major Leagues. This past year he got called up by the [Baltimore Orioles] and went insane in the Majors. He works his tail off and is the hardest working guy I’ve ever met."

On a typical off-day...

"...during the season, I like to get out and see wherever I’m at. When I was in Oregon, they had the All-Star break and we went over to Florence on the coast and spent some time taking in nature over there. We did some sand surfing and surfed down some sand dunes. In the off-season, I like to relax and hang out with my family and friends. I like to do a lot of casual things I don't get to do during the season like going out to eat with friends. Overall, I don't do anything too crazy because it’s a day off and it’s mainly to recover. I try to rest as much as possible."

On game-days, my pre-game routine consists of...

​"...mainly making sure I'm relaxed. I’ll sit in the locker room, relax, and listen to some music. I’ll then try to go out thirty minutes before the team stretch. I have a pretty good general mobility circuit I do for my hips. I’ll make sure I do that to maintain whatever mobility and flexibility I need in my hips. If there are any other tight areas, I’ll make sure to stretch it out. I get whatever I need done first and then do team warmups. Then we throw, go through [batting practice]. If I know that I'm going to pitch that day, then I’ll take it a little lighter on the mobility, stretching, and pregame throwing just because I’m going to have to get hot and going again. If I know a general idea of when I’ll be going in, I’ll start an inning or two before with some general mobility and some light sprints to make sure the muscles are firing. If I can, I try to toss a little earlier and work into it rather than just going in when they need me hot."

When I was drafted...

"...it kind of didn’t feel real. It still doesn’t feel real honestly. I was actually in my house alone. I got drafted on day-three which was  on my birthday, June 5th. I remember standing up and yelling, “let’s go!” I got pretty hyped, not like you see on television with the early rounders. It was exciting and didn’t feel real. My phone started blowing up with social media and with people calling me. It is surreal that all of the work you put in your whole life is paying off with the start of a new journey."

Aside from baseball, I am passionate about...

"...fitness, and I love helping people.

​Once baseball and my playing days are over, I would love to get into the fitness industry and open my own gym.

I would share my experience and help athletes do whatever it is they want to do. Even if it is an older person or someone who is not an athlete and rather just want to lose some weight, it would be extremely rewarding for me to help."

If I was not a baseball player, I would...

"...want to do something in the fitness industry.

I don’t see myself working an office job or anything like that. If push comes to shove and that’s the only thing to do, I would, but I would want to be my own boss and find a way to help people.

​In terms of fitness, I’ve had a few friends ask me to go to the gym with them and had others from junior college ask for advice.

​It’s a good feeling to pass along your knowledge and experience on and seeing it benefit others."